Speech development in child of neurotic mummy.

[lionheart]

DS2 (21 months) knows a lot of words (or approximations) and understands a great deal in terms of conversation/
instructions/questions but never seems to put two words together.

Anyone know about this stage of language development or have any experience they can share.

That way, I'll be able to fend off my fretful alter-ego and enjoy the monosyllabic baby stage.

is it perhaps classic second child who doesn't get to string two words together before elder sibling steps in?

My friend was seriously worried about her DD's lack of speech at a simliar age but by the time she started playgroup (nearly 3) she was chatting normally and is now the most lovely speaker (age 5).

I wondered if it might be something to do with being DS2.

He does have a lot of words but never puts them together.

I can vaguely recollect being told that this was a definite stage in speech development but can't remember what else it means.

can you perhaps call your HV and ask her?
Just to put your mind at rest.

My 2 year old DTs are only just now starting to put words together to make sentences and their pronunciation is not brilliant to the extent that often I'm the only one that understands them. We also have DD1 who by the time she was 20 months was speaking in full articulate sentences so it's quite hard not to compare them. But I have been reassured by my health visitor that this is entirely normal, and within the average ranges even if they were not second and third children (apparently it's quite normal for twins to speak late anyway), so I have not been worrying. Their comprehension of what is said to them is very good and has been for a long time.

DT2 said a 5 word sentence today which was the longest she'd ever managed.

So please don't worry - but perhaps check with your hv to put your mind properly at rest.

My dd is just the same as yours lionheart - except she is 33 months. She does now seem to be getting better

Todays new word was 'toy' - I was impressed by that too which shows how sloooooooowly her speech is coming along

Yes, I know you shouldn't compare them (that's why I thought I'd widen the comparison by asking on Mumsnet!).

Haven't seen the HV since DS2 was teeny but I will consider it.

The kind of interaction you have when there is a solo child is very different when there are two.

It is useful to hear about other experiences.

Remember very clearly my DS swallowed a dictionery the day before his 2nd birthday.He had words before that and was string 2 or 3 together but this day he just spouted new words all day long.

One of my friends children shut his finger in the door when he was 19 months and sobbing his little heart out told me "little boys cry sometimes"

christy.

tkband3: Thanks for that.

cat64: I'd forgotten to factor in gender.

Yurtgirl: I'm probably impatient but I want to be sure that I'm not missing anything iyswim.

I was told that as a rough rule of thumb it's one word age one, two words together age 2 & 3 words age 3. Was also told not to expect a lot of my DS as he was a boy & second child. He kicked into action round about the same age as your DS.

I think though if you feel a bit worried it is worth speaking to your health visitor, it takes a long time for speech therapy appointments to come through so it might be that she thinks it is an idea to put through a referral knowing that there is a really good chance that he won't need it by the time it comes through.

I was also told by a speech therapists that 2 word sentences by the age of two is the rule fo thumb

My son is two next week and seems at the same stage of development as your son. Whilst his older sister at the same age was a right chatterbox. Maybe the two boys can meet and have one syllable conversations with each other!

Hadn't heard that, ChocolateTeapot (lovely name) and cece. Thanks.

DS1 was very talkative, very early so that probably accentuates the difference.

Dis. Dat. Dere.

That's how it would go, BGD.